Why is my dog panting and coughing? Is it a sign of heart issues?

In a dog Miller's age, this cough and heavy breathing could be due to something serious like heart disease. Unfortunately, heart disease is common in old dogs, and while it cannot be cured, its symptoms can be managed with medication. I think it's really important that he sees a vet as soon as possible, so I would recommend taking him into see his vet this weekend. I hope this helps.

Hi. It sounds like he is having respiratory signs. This could be from many things such as....upper respiratory infection, cardiac disease, primary respiratory disease, cancers, or other infectious causes. With his age, he needs a full exam, labs, and chest x-rays. If he is in respiratory distress, you will want to go to the ER.

It is concerning that Coco is breathing heavily when she is sleeping - I'd be concerned that the cough could be due to heart disease or a respiratory disease. I'd recommend having your vet examine Coco. They might recommend chest x-rays as the first step.

I would be extremely concerned about her having a cardiac issue. Please take her to your vet so they can check to see if she has a heart murmur as that can lead to heart failure. Coughing is one of the first symptoms. She is the right age and breed for this to be happening. The other likely cause would be a collapsing trachea. So again, please take her to your vet for an exam. Best wishes.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you are describing can be caused by bloat, or dilation of the stomach, which can be a veterinary emergency and require surgery. This can also be caused by lung disease, a mass, or a foreign body in the throat - heart failure typically presents as rapid breathing and coughing, and usually develops over time. I recommend having Jersey seen by a vet as soon as possible, as it sounds like she may be developing trouble breathing. I hope all is well and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Difficulty breathing and panting could be a sign of heart disease or respiratory disease. Congestive heart failure would be the most common heart problem, while pneumonia, bronchitis, pleural effusion/fluid in the lungs would be some common respiratory problems. I would recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible if you feel Rex is having trouble breathing.

I would take Cookie back into the vet immediately. Heart disease can be common in senior dogs, and it does cause breathing problems. It can also lead to fluid build up in the abdomen, which could explain the big belly. She should be seen by a vet for these issues.